Morpurgo War Stories (six novels): Private Peaceful; Little Manfred; The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips; Toro! Toro!; Shadow; An Elephant in the Garden

By Michael Morpurgo

Six best-loved novels on the theme of war by the nation’s favourite storyteller and award-winning author of ‘War Horse’, brought together in this ebook collection.

A perfect introduction to Michael Morpurgo’s enthralling stories for new readers and a classic collection for fans.

‘Private Peaceful’:
Thomas Peaceful and his brother Charlie are on the battlefields of the First World War, trying to keep hope alive in the horror of the trenches through memories of their childhood…

‘Little Manfred’:
In the Imperial War Museum is a wooden Dachshund, carved by a German prisoner of war for the children of the British family with which he stayed after the fighting ended. This is the story of how it got there…

‘The Amazing Story of Adophus Tips’:
In 1943, Lily Treganza was living in a sleepy seaside village, scarcely touched by the war. But all that was soon to change…

‘Toro! Toro!’:
Antonito is a young boy growing up in Southern Spain, on a farm rearing bulls for the bull ring. Antonito hand rears a little black calf, Paco, and they become firm friends. But later on the eve of the Spanish Civil War, Antonito learns of the horrors of the bull fight and Paco’s fate, and so frees the black bull and rides with him into the hills…

‘Shadow’:
Aman and his mother live in war-torn Afghanistan. When a Western dog appears at the mouth of their cave, it soon becomes Aman’s constant companion, his shadow as he calls her. But life is becoming increasingly dangerous for Aman and his family…

‘An Elephant in the Garden’:
It is Dresden in 1945 and Karli and Elizabeth’s mother works at the zoo. When the bombs begin to fall, they cannot bear to leave behind beloved elephant, Marlene…

Format: ebook
Ageband: from 7
Release Date: 07 Nov 2013
Pages: None
ISBN: 978-0-00-753088-5
Michael Morpurgo OBE is one of Britain\'s best-loved writers for children, and has sold more than 35 million books around the world. He has written more than 150 novels and won many prizes, including the Smarties Prize, the Whitbread Award and the Blue Peter Book Award, while several of his books have been adapted for stage and screen, including the global theatrical phenomenon War Horse. Michael was Children’s Laureate from 2003 to 2005, and founded the charity Farms for City Children with his wife, Clare. He was knighted in 2018 for services to literature and charity.

“As ever, Morpurgo's warmth and humanity suffuse a story of courage, love and hope.” Amanda Craig, The Times -

“Passionate and touching” Julia Eccleshare -

“Morpurgo is a virtuoso at conjuring vibrant stories that draw on historical events.' The Observer Review -

“Champagne quality over a wide range of subjects.” The Telegraph -

Praise for Private Peaceful:“His [Tommo’s] journey from agricultural labourer to cannon fodder is movingly told…Michael Morpurgo is expert at getting through to his readers. He writes here about events that should never be forgotten nor forgiven, and does so most effectively.” Independent -

“Full of warmth as well as grief, conveying vividly how precious it is to be alive” Sunday Times -

“Deserved to last as an insight into the First World War in the same way as, say, The Silver Sword or Goodnight Mr Tom” Telegraph -

“A poignant, elegiac novel” Daily Mail -

Related Articles

Edinburgh Fringe – Private Peaceful

About the show: ‘Private Peaceful at the theatre is a moving experience that not only tells the story of a young soldier’s final day in World War One, but perhaps more importantly conveys the strength of human spirit’ (Michael Morpurgo). ‘The horrors of war and the joyfulness of life are… Read More

Edinburgh Fringe – An Elephant in the Garden

About the show: Lizzie, her mother and an elephant from the zoo flee the Dresden firebombing in the Second World War. Escaping the Allies from the West – and the Russians from the East – this extraordinary trio of refugees meet: an RAF officer who has bailed out of his… Read More

Michael at the memorial of Thomas Samuel Henry Peacefull

Michael Morpurgo’s novel Private Peaceful was partly inspired by the memorial of a young soldier that he saw in the Bedford House Cemetery in Ypres, Flanders.  A few years after the book first published, Maxine Keeble  was researching her family tree and thought that there might be a connection. She… Read More

An Elephant in the Garden at Shakespeare’s Globe this summer

A new adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s ‘An Elephant in the Garden’ is being shown at Shakespeare’s Globe this summer. 1945. Dresden, Germany. Lizzie, her mother – and an elephant from the zoo, flee the Allied fire-bombing in the end-game of the Second World War. Escaping the Allies’ advance from… Read More

An Elephant in the Garden | Stage Adaptation | Bristol

An Elephant in the Garden is now on stage! Michael Morpurgo’s gripping, funny novel is currently on a Spring tour, receiving rave reviews: “Beautiful storytelling in action…stunningly performed by Alison Reid” – The Guardian On the 13th and 14th April 2017, the show will be at The Performing Arts Centre… Read More